“The fact that we have steadily moved up in the Franchise 500 rankings year after year is a testament to our economic strength and our stability as a franchise system,” says Keith Albright, chief operating officer of Paciugo Gelato & Caffè. “Paciugo Gelato & Caffè continues to grow despite the current economic environment, and that speaks volumes about our franchisees, our management team, and, above all else, our award winning gelato, sorbet, and specialty drinks. We are proud of our accomplishments and look forward to the many opportunities that we’ve already identified for 2011 and beyond.”

The rankings for all 500 companies are determined using an exclusive formula that takes into account objective and quantifiable factors. An independent CPA analyzes all financial data. The most important factors include financial strength and stability, growth rate, and size of the system. All franchises are given a cumulative score, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.

“Franchises are not only a great avenue to business ownership for many with a thirsty entrepreneurial spirit, but they're also capable of playing a key role in carrying us into a growing economy,” says Amy Cosper, vice president and editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “The $153.7 billion in total payroll and 7.9 million jobs they account for speak to that loud and clear, and the ones that made this year's Franchise 500 are a great place for anyone to start their search for the right business.”

During the past 10 years, Ugo Ginatta, cofounder and CEO of Paciugo Gelato & Caffè and his wife, Cristiana, and son Vincenzo, have grown the Paciugo brand to more than 40 franchised locations in the U.S. and Mexico. In addition, the company has developed a world-class manufacturing and distribution infrastructure that delivers the highest quality ingredients and other products to Paciugo franchise owners. Most recently, the company announced international expansion plans to bring its traditional, handcrafted, artisanal Italian gelato, sorbet, and hot/cold specialty drinks to Asia-Pacific markets, beginning with South Korea.